NOAA head details reform of enforcement of the fishing industry

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day....you know how it goes. It used to be easy to fish for a living, but know with all the new regulations, rules, cameras on boats????...you might as well sit home and collect a check from the government. Another industry in the hands of the 'enforcers'.

On Thursday, NOAA proposed eliminating a requirement for a judge to give "good reason(s)" in cases when he or she doesn't accept NOAA's recommended penalty.

Ouellette said the change gets fishermen out the "absurd, impossible situation" of trying to prove to the judge a fine is excessive, even though NOAA wasn't required to fully explain its reasons.

The tensions over enforcement and fines come amid ever-tighter fishing limits in the struggling industry.

Earlier this month, distrust deepened when the Inspector General revealed that NOAA's law enforcement chief Dale Jones had destroyed up to 140 files after the IG's investigation began. Jones said the shredding was routine and long-planned.

in reference to: Brazilian maid testifies against Homeland Security official - BostonHerald.com (view on Google Sidewiki)